The students have experimented with the psychology of getting someone to overcome bug-eating, with the art and marketing of insects, and with surveys and focus groups to see what their classmates do — and do not — respond well to.

"They can see how they've changed the perception of the school towards insects, they can see that they can actually make differences in the world. And for kids who generally feel their voice isn't heard, they're not making an impact on the world, that can be a huge thing," Dr White said.

One of the students involved, Alex Guascoine-Johnson, said the experiments changed his mind on bugs.

"I hated insects. I absolutely hated them. But I'm a bit more used to them now," he said.

Current recipes still have a few bugs

On Friday the students cooked up a swarm for the school: choc-bug cookies, ant and mealworm nachos and cricket-flavoured ice cream.

"[They are] things you would normally enjoy, now you can add more flavour and protein to it," Student Leah Jorgensen said.

And the verdict?

Student Keona Abraham said she could see herself cooking insects at home.

"Now that I've tried it, it's actually quite yummy, so I can introduce it to my family - they might be a little grossed out'," she said.

Leah said when someone first put a bunch of bugs in her face, she was apprehensive.

Now, she thinks her cookies adorned with whole crickets are "better than Subway cookies".

Others were "not fussed".

"I tried some of the nachos, but not again," Alex said.

Getting under students' skin

Student Alex liked the idea of cooking with insects.

"I think it's a great idea, you can get so much out of them, and it doesn't take a lot to breed them," he said.

Dr White said the experiment has been a success in teaching students there is more to learn than the textbook.

"Giving the kids that ownership of not just their learning, but also of the experiences and the world that they're going to inherit gives them a great passion for actually coming to school and doing things, as opposed to saying: 'These are the things you need to know to pass the subject'," he said.

And he thinks the students are making headway on their secret recipe.

"I think we are. Maybe we'll have cricket chips, or maybe we'll have them as the equivalent of popcorn — but that's substitution, the future will be expansion," he said.

"There's some very exciting things the kids are making, and looking into."